Window glass protector



Aug. 19, 1952 Filed Nov. 2, 1948 A. C. SCHOEPFER WINDOW GLASS PROTECTOR 2 sHEETs-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR. 174545) c same/we zzwd 2 2;

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Aug. 19, 1952 A. c. SCHOEPFER ,0

' WINDOW GLASS PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 2, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 tion.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 TED l [S TATE I I .Winnow; LASS rao'rcoron Alfred CaSchoepfer. St. PetersburgFla. iApplication November 2, 194$.Serialhl 0.".57,9 ll4 I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to means forjpreventing breakage of window glass,e specially large plate glass, by pressure above or below normal atmospheric pressure on the exterior surface'thereof u by wind, the object being to'provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive structure particularly adaptedior use for large store windows liable tobreakage by wind pressure or areduction 'in pressure below normal.

'These and otherobjects and features oifthe invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and apparatus embodying my inven- "tion is shown inthe accompanying drawing-i ,which- .1

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing my improved window brace in'association with a glass supported which'respectively engage in the eyed elements 29 and 30 of the turnbuckle 3|. These elements thereby with the suction cups shown'partly insec- Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. '1. Fig.3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 441's a side elevation of an alternative form tion cups shown partly in section. o 7 I Fig. 5 is a plan view of a spanner taken on line of the-window supporting elementwith the suc- Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. l the device is positioned between the'opposite sides I and 2 of an opening in a building. The opening on each side has a frame 32 and 33 to receive a glass-5 and in contact with the inner face of the glass are two rubber cups 6 and 7 having the periphery 8 and 9 in contact with the glass. The base l of the cup has a threaded screw 1 l and the head I2 is posi tioned'within the body of the rubber cup as shown in Fig. 1.

There may be one or severalsuch cups depending upon the size of the window glass and in each case there is a turnbuckle l3 inoneiend of which the screw i l is threaded and the other end of which is threaded to receive the screw I 3 having a threaded tubular element thereon.

On the side I of the window opening is secured a plate I6 and on the opposite side, of the opening isia similar plate 57: 'Each of theplates l 6 and H 29 and 30 are threaded in the respective ends "of the turnbuckle 3| which is here shown as" being rectangular inform but other ty'pes of turnbuckle may be utilized. r

The plate glass 5 has its opposed edges supported in grooves provided therefor in the glass supporting elements 32: and 9 33 and the cable passes through the slot- 34-in"thescrews I4. "As

'the' wing nut 35 is turnabl'e on the respective screw the cable is tightened and the cupielements '6 and j! are maintained in pressure engagement with the lass by' means of the turnbuckle-l3. I By the arrangement of parts as hereinbefore described in respect'toFigs. 1' and4, the cableis maintained intaut'c'on'dition and provides a rigid support for the cups. The 'turnbuckles' 13 of Fig. 1 or 41 of Fig. 4 may be rotated in one direction to support the cups'inpressurecontact with the glass and rotated in the opposite direction to release the pressure thereby enabling the apps.- r'atus to be removed; In removing the device the peripheral flange'of the cups at one ormore points in its peripherymay be raised'from "contact withthe glass to permit air to flow into the cup or cups depending uponthe area of the glass thereby permittingthe apparatus to be :removed subsequentto releasing the tension'on -the cable "or cables. For this purpose both wing nuts 35 and the'turnbuckles [3 are rotated to release the tension on the cable. The plates or brackets Hi and l"! are'preferably permanently mounted on the sides I and 2 of the window opening. I

In the form of the invention shown. in'Fig. 4 there is. a spanner midway between the tensioning screws 3'i3iand: 38 on the outer end of which are positioned the cups 39 and: w respectively. This spanner has a slot Al in each end thereof to receive the cable strands 42 and '43 and at the baseof each-"of the slots is a slot 4410i less-width so that the screws 45-.and 4'5 maybe turnedto pressure engagement with the cables to thereby'hold the spanner 3,6. in position on the cable.

A turnbuckle 41 is utilized to place the cable under tension longitudinally to thereby maintain the cup elements in pressure contact with the inner surface of the glass whereby the glass is supported from deflection by wind pressure on the exterior thereof. The cups tend to prevent deflection of the glass outwardly when the air pressure on the exterior of the glass is less than the air pressure within the building and thus serves the same purpose as the structure shown in Fig. 1. By use of the spanner the cable is under greater tension than is the case with the structure shown in Fig. 1.

The cables in Figs. 1 and 4, when in taut condition, hold the cups in pressure contact with the inner surface of the glass and function to resist deflection of the glass inwardly or outwardly depending upon whether the external air pressure is above the pressure within a closed area or below external air pressure. The number of cups utilized depends upon the area of the glass and,

in any case, the cables are under tension and provide a rigid support for the glass.

It is believed obvious from the foregoing description in conjunction with the drawings that the apparatus is readily assembled in position in a window opening in the event of an approaching storm and is readily removed as the air pres sure returns to normal. It is also believed obvious that the apparatus is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, is readily erected when necessary and the cup elements do not mar the glass.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. Means for preventing breakage of window glass positioned in a window opening in-a building by pressure applied to the exterior of the glass, comprising a pair of rubber cups in spaced relation, a threaded element secured to each cup extending to the exterior thereof, turnbuckles having their one ends threaded on said threaded elements, second threaded elements adjustably mounted upon the opposite ends of said turnbuckles, said second elements each having a longitudinal slot, a cable having the opposite ends thereof connected together providing parallel strands extending through said slots, adjustable means on each of the second threaded elements for placing the cable under tension thereby applying pressure to the cups and supporting the glass, and spaced brackets upon the building upon opposite sides of said window opening through which the opposite ends of said cable extend for supporting the same.

2. Means for preventing breakage of window glass positioned in a window opening in a building by pressure applied to the exterior of the glass, comprising a rubber cup, a threaded element secured to said cup extending to the exterior thereof, a turnbuckle threaded at one end upon said threaded element, a second threaded element adjustably mounted upon the opposite end of said turnbuckle, said second threaded element having a longitudinal slot, a cable having the opposite ends thereof connected together providing parallel strands extending through said slot, adjustable means on said second threaded element for placing the cable under tension thereby applying pressure to said cup and supporting the glass, and spaced brackets upon the building upon the opposite sides of said window through which 4 the opposite ends of said cable extend for supporting the same.

3. Means for preventing breakage of window glass positioned in a window opening in a building by pressure applied to the exterior of the glass, comprising a rubber cup, a threaded element secured to said cup extending to the exterior thereof, a turnbuckle threaded at one end upon said threaded element, a second threaded element adjustably mounted upon the opposite end of said turnbuckle, said second threaded element having a longitudinal slot, a cable having the opposite ends thereof connected together providing parallel strands extending through said slot, adjustable means on said second threaded element for placing the cable under tension thereby applying pressure to said cup and supporting the glass, spaced brackets upon the building upon oppositesides of said window through which the opposite ends of said cable, extend for supporting the same, and adjustable means interconnecting the ends of said cable.

4. Means for preventing breakage of window glass positioned in a window opening in a building by pressure applied to the exterior of the glass, comprising a pair of rubber cups in spaced relation, a threaded element secured to each cup extending to the exterior thereof, turnbuckles having their one ends threaded on said threaded elements, second threaded elements adjustably mounted upon the opposite ends of said turnbuckles, said second elements each having a longitudinal slot, a cable having the opposite ends thereof connected together providing parallel strands substantially parallel to the window and lying in a plane at right angles to the window and extending through said slots, a pair of adjustable means upon each of said second threaded elements upon the outside of said cable strands for regulating the tension in said cable, said turnbuckles being adjustable to regulate the pressure applied to said cup elements, said cable strands being alternately cooperable respectively with said adjustable means upon each second threaded element for resisting axial movements of said second threaded elements in either direction.

ALFRED C. SCHOEPFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

